Research Question: What are the pros and cons of having a dress code Contributed by: Jaclyn Augustine
Dress Codes and Uniforms in Urban Schools
This article was about how in the recent years dress codes and uniforms have been and ongoing problem in middle school and high scools with the ongoing fashion uprise. Principle's have noticed that the student's attendance, attention to instruction and grades suffer when appearance is overemphasized. Some educators feel that many young people view school as a major arena in which to display their latest fashions. Many schools have gone on to prohibit certain clothing or have their students wear uniforms. Some advantages of having a uniform include showing that you are a member of an organization, concealing status, "oneness", no "haves" or "have-nots", honor roll students increased, decrease in number of disputes, increase in positive student interaction and reducing the money people spend for clothing. The main disadvantage of having uniforms is that youth can't expres themselves. Parents must activley manage and monitor how youth obtain and wear clothing and accessories. Lastly, uniforms reduce competition and other negative behavior.
In my opinion, I agree with the points that this article makes because they are all valid. When you dress a group of teenagers up in the same outfit, it eliminates so many things that could in the future, cause potential problems. In public schools, classes are sometimes distracted because they are paying too much attention on what their friends are wearing around them rather than to learning. If everyone has the same clothing items on, no one can judge one another and you all are on the same level. This also helps when you are meeting a whole new group of people because you can not judge the person on the clothing that they are wearing, you have to get to know the person first.
We are what we wear: Revisting Student Dress Codes
This article was about how students will wear just about anything, just about anywhere. Clothing is a mjor issue in the nation's public schools and it is due to the fact that current fashion trends are getting more and more extreme and obscene. Another main reason for wanting dress codes so badly is the rising gang problems. Principles think that by adapting a dress code, gang members will not be able to express themselves and it might reduce gang violence. Many schools are experimenting traditional dress codes and forbidding the wearing of certan categories. This article also has many good reason why it is a good idea to adopt a uniform; it promotes a more effective climate for learning, creates opportunities, campus safety and security, school unity and pride, eliminates "label competition", ensures modest dress code, simplifies dressing and minimizes cost to parents.
I had mixed feelings about this particular article on dress code for a few reasons. I agree with the author when he is talking about the advantages because I know for a fact that some of them are true since I had to wear a uniform for six years. It does eliminate "label competitions" which is very popular among girls and sometimes is taken a little to far. This then leads into how uniforms can save the parents money. When new trends come out each season, the parents are bugged by their children to go out and by new clothes. But, if the child wears the same thing everyday to school, it could minimize that cost. Throughout this article there are many example stories with situations in where students got suspended for wearing certain clothing and/or accessories. For example, one student was suspended for wear a Confederate Flag shirt to class and he was suspended because he refused to take it off. I think that this boy had the right to wear the shirt if he pleased and it is not up to the school to decided what he is allowed to wear and/or not wear. This is why uniforms are the best solution. When you just have a dress code, it is not going to cover everything for everyone and you are going to run into many problems throughout the school year. If you just have uniforms and everyone looks the same, you just need a set of rules pertaining to how to wear that uniform and many of those problems are easily solved.
Schools Adapt Mandatory ties, skirts
This article was about how public schools are starting to get uniforms for their students. Some of the students that went from street clothes to uniforms said that thye looked neat, while other kids thought they looked like nerds. In the past decade more schools have turned to standardized clothing to assuage campus problems. Uniforms seem to eliminate gang-related violence and the gap between rich and poor students. When schools make uniforms "optional", it doesn't work because the students are still choosing what they want to wear. Uniforms are a growing national trend and the parents of the students support the idea. Some advantages that were listed in this article were that uniforms are appealing because they more readily identify intruders on campus, reduce distractions in classroom, reduce family's clothing cost and gives the students a sense of belonging, discipline and respect. The only downside they stated was that uniforms mayb infringe freedom of expression.
I enjoyed reading this article because in my opinion I think that every school, public or private, should have a uniform. It just makes everything so much easier for the students, parents and administration. When the student wakes up in the morning they don't have to worry about putting together an outfit because they are just going to wear the same thing everyday. Parents don't have to continue to buy new clothing throughout the school year, they only have to buy one or more set(s) of uniforms. Administration then does not have to monitor every little peice of clothing that every student is wear on a day to day basis.
Dress For Success?
This article gave many good pros and cons to think about when it comes to school uniforms. Uniforms eliminate distractions and differences among students, reduce conflicts, bullying and crimes, raise self-esteem and pride in the school community, better scholastic performance and lowers the rates in the substance abuse and gang activity. The downside of uniforms seem to be that it causes a resentment with administration, erosion of discipline and sometimes is a burden on poor and minority families. Principles of some schools that have changed from dress codes to uniforms say that they like it because the students arrive at school dressed and ready to learn. There are also fewer attendance and behavior problems and the students seem to be getting better grades.
I could see where this article was leading when it started talking about the downside of uniforms. All the the cons listed in this article might be true in some cases, but not in all. In any given situation there are going to be some bad things about an idea, but you just have to work around it. If students are going to be resentful towards their administration for making them have to wear a uniform, then let them. They will eventually get use to the uniform and they might even start to like it. There are also many more upsides to wearing uniforms than downsides which make it even more apparent that all school should have their students wear uniforms.
A Uniform Look
This article was loaded with statistics relating to how uniforms has lowed gang violence and substance abuse mainly in California. When students dress alike, proponents say, the school climate may be improved. Uniforms have lead to improve disapline and classroom behavior. School attendance also increases, the students have more respect for the teachers and there is a reduction in social stratification. Overall, uniforms seem like the solution to all of education's problems. Some people might see the bad side of uniforms though which include that this might violate student's rights and students will find other ways to compete with one another. Many schools adopt school uniforms to try to reduce suspensions, have less fighting, increased test scores and improved school performance. One principle stated that he beleives since uniforms reduces violence, less school violence equals a better school climate.
This article was very interesting to read becuase the numbers that crime rates and violence that has decreased in some areas just due to uniforms is amazing. Simply by dressing students in the same clothing can help schools out in many ways and in the long run might help the school's future and community around them. The only thing that I did not agree on from this article is when they state that one bad thing about uniforms is that now that kids arn't competing amongst their clothing, they will find other things to compete with each other for. I don't think this is true because in a uniform or not, they compete to see who has the nicer car, cell phone, etc. Teenagers natuarally compete with one another and always want to be above everyone else, so why not eliminate the clothing part of that?
Contributed by: Jaclyn Augustine
Dress Codes and Uniforms in Urban Schools
This article was about how in the recent years dress codes and uniforms have been and ongoing problem in middle school and high scools with the ongoing fashion uprise. Principle's have noticed that the student's attendance, attention to instruction and grades suffer when appearance is overemphasized. Some educators feel that many young people view school as a major arena in which to display their latest fashions. Many schools have gone on to prohibit certain clothing or have their students wear uniforms. Some advantages of having a uniform include showing that you are a member of an organization, concealing status, "oneness", no "haves" or "have-nots", honor roll students increased, decrease in number of disputes, increase in positive student interaction and reducing the money people spend for clothing. The main disadvantage of having uniforms is that youth can't expres themselves. Parents must activley manage and monitor how youth obtain and wear clothing and accessories. Lastly, uniforms reduce competition and other negative behavior.
In my opinion, I agree with the points that this article makes because they are all valid. When you dress a group of teenagers up in the same outfit, it eliminates so many things that could in the future, cause potential problems. In public schools, classes are sometimes distracted because they are paying too much attention on what their friends are wearing around them rather than to learning. If everyone has the same clothing items on, no one can judge one another and you all are on the same level. This also helps when you are meeting a whole new group of people because you can not judge the person on the clothing that they are wearing, you have to get to know the person first.
Lapoint, Velma, and Lillian O. Holloman. "Dress Codes and Uniforms in Urban Schools." EBSCOhost. Oct. 1992. 14 Nov. 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=115&sid=6f128af8-58b2-4202-b9d7-9c636bb73c64%40sessionmgr108>.
We are what we wear: Revisting Student Dress Codes
This article was about how students will wear just about anything, just about anywhere. Clothing is a mjor issue in the nation's public schools and it is due to the fact that current fashion trends are getting more and more extreme and obscene. Another main reason for wanting dress codes so badly is the rising gang problems. Principles think that by adapting a dress code, gang members will not be able to express themselves and it might reduce gang violence. Many schools are experimenting traditional dress codes and forbidding the wearing of certan categories. This article also has many good reason why it is a good idea to adopt a uniform; it promotes a more effective climate for learning, creates opportunities, campus safety and security, school unity and pride, eliminates "label competition", ensures modest dress code, simplifies dressing and minimizes cost to parents.
I had mixed feelings about this particular article on dress code for a few reasons. I agree with the author when he is talking about the advantages because I know for a fact that some of them are true since I had to wear a uniform for six years. It does eliminate "label competitions" which is very popular among girls and sometimes is taken a little to far. This then leads into how uniforms can save the parents money. When new trends come out each season, the parents are bugged by their children to go out and by new clothes. But, if the child wears the same thing everyday to school, it could minimize that cost. Throughout this article there are many example stories with situations in where students got suspended for wearing certain clothing and/or accessories. For example, one student was suspended for wear a Confederate Flag shirt to class and he was suspended because he refused to take it off. I think that this boy had the right to wear the shirt if he pleased and it is not up to the school to decided what he is allowed to wear and/or not wear. This is why uniforms are the best solution. When you just have a dress code, it is not going to cover everything for everyone and you are going to run into many problems throughout the school year. If you just have uniforms and everyone looks the same, you just need a set of rules pertaining to how to wear that uniform and many of those problems are easily solved.
Gilbert, Christopher B. "We are What We Wear: Revisiting Student Dress Codes." EBSCOhost. 7 Jan. 1999. 14 Nov. 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=114&sid=1f82294d-1f5d-41b4-967c-88b5e5c1401f%40sessionmgr107>.
Schools Adapt Mandatory ties, skirts
This article was about how public schools are starting to get uniforms for their students. Some of the students that went from street clothes to uniforms said that thye looked neat, while other kids thought they looked like nerds. In the past decade more schools have turned to standardized clothing to assuage campus problems. Uniforms seem to eliminate gang-related violence and the gap between rich and poor students. When schools make uniforms "optional", it doesn't work because the students are still choosing what they want to wear. Uniforms are a growing national trend and the parents of the students support the idea. Some advantages that were listed in this article were that uniforms are appealing because they more readily identify intruders on campus, reduce distractions in classroom, reduce family's clothing cost and gives the students a sense of belonging, discipline and respect. The only downside they stated was that uniforms mayb infringe freedom of expression.
I enjoyed reading this article because in my opinion I think that every school, public or private, should have a uniform. It just makes everything so much easier for the students, parents and administration. When the student wakes up in the morning they don't have to worry about putting together an outfit because they are just going to wear the same thing everyday. Parents don't have to continue to buy new clothing throughout the school year, they only have to buy one or more set(s) of uniforms. Administration then does not have to monitor every little peice of clothing that every student is wear on a day to day basis.
Goodale, Gloria. "Schools Adopt Mandatory Ties, Skirts." EBSCOhost. 15 June 1995. 25 Nov. 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=17&sid=072d153d-e704-4b71-afb2-3451cb5165b6%40sessionmgr3>.
Dress For Success?
This article gave many good pros and cons to think about when it comes to school uniforms. Uniforms eliminate distractions and differences among students, reduce conflicts, bullying and crimes, raise self-esteem and pride in the school community, better scholastic performance and lowers the rates in the substance abuse and gang activity. The downside of uniforms seem to be that it causes a resentment with administration, erosion of discipline and sometimes is a burden on poor and minority families. Principles of some schools that have changed from dress codes to uniforms say that they like it because the students arrive at school dressed and ready to learn. There are also fewer attendance and behavior problems and the students seem to be getting better grades.
I could see where this article was leading when it started talking about the downside of uniforms. All the the cons listed in this article might be true in some cases, but not in all. In any given situation there are going to be some bad things about an idea, but you just have to work around it. If students are going to be resentful towards their administration for making them have to wear a uniform, then let them. They will eventually get use to the uniform and they might even start to like it. There are also many more upsides to wearing uniforms than downsides which make it even more apparent that all school should have their students wear uniforms.
"Dress for Success?" EBSCOhost. Jan.-Feb. 2005. Early Childhood Today. 23 Nov. 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=120&sid=072d153d-e704-4b71-afb2-3451cb5165b6%40sessionmgr3>.
A Uniform Look
This article was loaded with statistics relating to how uniforms has lowed gang violence and substance abuse mainly in California. When students dress alike, proponents say, the school climate may be improved. Uniforms have lead to improve disapline and classroom behavior. School attendance also increases, the students have more respect for the teachers and there is a reduction in social stratification. Overall, uniforms seem like the solution to all of education's problems. Some people might see the bad side of uniforms though which include that this might violate student's rights and students will find other ways to compete with one another. Many schools adopt school uniforms to try to reduce suspensions, have less fighting, increased test scores and improved school performance. One principle stated that he beleives since uniforms reduces violence, less school violence equals a better school climate.
This article was very interesting to read becuase the numbers that crime rates and violence that has decreased in some areas just due to uniforms is amazing. Simply by dressing students in the same clothing can help schools out in many ways and in the long run might help the school's future and community around them. The only thing that I did not agree on from this article is when they state that one bad thing about uniforms is that now that kids arn't competing amongst their clothing, they will find other things to compete with each other for. I don't think this is true because in a uniform or not, they compete to see who has the nicer car, cell phone, etc. Teenagers natuarally compete with one another and always want to be above everyone else, so why not eliminate the clothing part of that?
Konheim-Kalkstein, Yasmine L. "A Uniform Look." EBSCOhost. Aug. 2006. American School Board Journal. 21 Nov. 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=108&sid=2e55aaa8-ca8e-4fa4-a2a0-fac6f84a20b0%40sessionmgr8>.
EDC 102 Fnl Prj Part I Eval - Jaclyn A